Tag: christian

A Lament

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If you’ve been on this journey with me long enough, you know I love to exposit the Scriptures and share my own findings as God teaches me from His Word.

And though I still do, I’m struggling. Amidst some recent depression over the state of our world and anxiety over changes coming in my future, I feel stuck. So for the first time in the two and a half years since I started this blog, I’m experiencing what the literary greats refer to as: writer’s block.

You see although I still enjoy reading the Scriptures and still learn a lot from studying the Bible, my heart is tired, and my spirit – a little lost. The only way I can think to express what this writer’s block feels like is, lament.

Here’s my working definition of lament:

An expression of heartbreak or grief because something you are experiencing does not line up with what you understand about God.

So, without much else inspiring greatness, I thought we’d explore laments and see where we land.

The book of Psalms is full of laments where the psalmists express passionate grief or sorrow over a number of things, such as their own sin, helpless situations, loss, heartbreak, etc.

We might sometimes think of laments as being disrespectful or irreverent towards a holy God. But actually, a lament is the appropriate response to the heartache we live through or the pain we experience.

Paul E. Miller says,

A lament takes seriously the mismatch between God’s promise and some aspect of the brokenness of this world. Instead of suppressing the dissonance between hope and reality, it transforms it into a prayer.

So instead of being afraid to admit the struggle, we direct the pain toward God knowing He is the only one who won’t be crushed by the full spectrum of our emotions, or the full depth of our pain.

We are reminded through the Scriptures that even God laments! In both Ezekiel 33 and Jeremiah 12, God talks about how He laments the destruction of the wicked. It grieves Him to see His people turn away from Him and invite the destruction that their sin has provoked.

So when we join God in lamenting over how evil is having its way in our world and in our lives, we are not responding flippantly to God because of the pain. But aligning ourselves with Him and with His character, recognizing that something is not right and choosing to run to Him, to pour ourselves out to Him, as our response.

Here is one of my favourite examples of a scriptural psalm of lament:

O Lord, rebuke me not in your anger,
    nor discipline me in your wrath.
2 Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am languishing;
    heal me, O Lord, for my bones are troubled.
3 My soul also is greatly troubled.
    But you, O Lord—how long?
4 Turn, O Lord, deliver my life;
    save me for the sake of your steadfast love.
5 For in death there is no remembrance of you;
    in Sheol who will give you praise?
6 I am weary with my moaning;
    every night I flood my bed with tears;
    I drench my couch with my weeping.
7 My eye wastes away because of grief;
    it grows weak because of all my foes.
8 Depart from me, all you workers of evil,
    for the Lord has heard the sound of my weeping.
9 The Lord has heard my plea;
    the Lord accepts my prayer.
10 All my enemies shall be ashamed and greatly troubled;
    they shall turn back and be put to shame in a moment.

– Psalm 6

The psalmist, David, starts by expressing his struggle to God and y’all, it’s dramatic. He goes on about how he’s weary from moaning, flooding his bed with tears, and drenching his couch from weeping. I mean, between my daughter and me and our drama queen vibes, I can recognize big feelings!

But he takes a turn by the end and places his hope in God saying that his enemies will be ashamed and troubled. We know this had not yet happened, and that his circumstances had not yet changed because he talks about this happening in the future.

This tells us that we can be honest about how hard things are, while simultaneously trusting that God will care for us and provide for us. That He will make things right. That He will fulfill His promises and be true to His unchanging character. So the psalmist can still lament while putting His hope in God to come through for Him.

And that’s where I’m at today.

A lot just doesn’t feel right within me. I’m anxious about the future as a 10-year season with babies at home is drawing to a close. My daughter starts school in the fall and I find myself anxious about what the future holds for me.

And without fully understanding why, it’s become a significant source stress.

Even after months of processing the decision, I can’t bring myself to pray about it without speechlessly breaking down in tears before the Lord.

It’s just not like me. And if someone else told me about this struggle, I know I’d have all the right answers and encouraging words to say.

So here’s a little lament for ya…

I’m scared. I’m scared of giving up the things I love in order to work a job I hate.

I’m perplexed at why the things I love to do can’t be lucrative like they seem to be for other people.

I’m angry that despite sacrificing so much for my family and the Kingdom, it doesn’t feel like I’ve got much to show for it.

And that brings me to:

Imposter Syndrome

Imposter syndrome simply means that you believe you are not as competent as others perceive you to be.

That’s a whole other aspect to my experience that we won’t explore here, but it got me thinking about imposter syndrome in a larger, spiritual sense.

Why do we think God won’t work it out? Or that He won’t come through?

We know there are no guarantees, and anything can happen. However, the critical part of a lament is truly believing that God really WILL come through! Despite what our eyes can see and our experiences reveal.

It’s recognizing that we have this hope that anchors our souls, firm and secure (Hebrews 6:19).

It’s more than wishful thinking. It’s more than hoping for the best and planning for the worst. It’s truly knowing that God will work all things out for our good and His glory.

That’s the only place I can really land on today. I’m still brought to tears every time I think about my unknown future. So, I can relate to David when he’s drenching his pillow and drowning in tears.

Yet even as I reflect on that, I’m reminded of another psalm that says,

You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in your bottle.
You have recorded each one in your book.

– Psalm 56:8

So you see, friend, even our tears are not wasted. Even our sorrow is precious in His sight. He keeps a close eye and detailed account of the tears of His faithful ones because He is FOR those who trust in Him.

And when we’re heartbroken, He only draws closer. (Psalm 34:18)

What’s in the Ears

I hope this lament exploration blessed you as much as it has blessed me. Please let me know your thoughts in the comments or send me a message, and share with a friend too!

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Lived, Not Told

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Some things are hard to understand without experiencing them for yourself.

Have you ever been on the trip of a lifetime and taken in the most breathtaking scenery? Even trying to capture it with a camera doesn’t do it justice. In the end, you throw up your arms and say,

“You really just have to experience it for yourself.”

Or maybe as a foodie, your taste buds have finally basked in the glory of that long sought after pasta carbonara, tender filet mignon, flaky pastry, or full-bodied wine. You try to string together the most perfectly descriptive adjectives to explain the complexity of flavours – but in the end you throw up your arms and say,

“You really just have to experience it for yourself.”

Whether it be…
travel
food
falling in love
or becoming a parent for the first time…

We’ve all lived through things that cannot be adequately described without being experienced firsthand.

No matter how hard we try to explain it, some things just have to be lived, not told.

Unfortunately, so many of us end up missing out on the FULL LIFE Jesus promises because we only go by whatever we’ve heard, and we stop there.

Perhaps all you know of Jesus is secondhand accounts of the experiences of others. So you’re left trying to sort through what you actually believe.

Maybe you’ve been told,

“You really just have to experience Him for yourself.”

In Luke 7, we read about how Jesus’ ministry is really gaining traction. People are flocking to Him for healing and teaching, and He’s causing quite a stir.

So much so, that John the Baptist, the last of the messengers from God to announce the coming Saviour, gets word of it while he’s in prison. After trying to sort it all out for themselves, John and his followers don’t know what to make of Jesus. Like most Jewish people at the time, they were expecting an overthrow of the Roman government and a messiah who would reestablish the throne of their ancestors.

Jesus didn’t seem to show signs of any of this. So John sends his followers to ask Jesus directly,

Are you the Messiah we’ve been expecting, or should we keep looking for someone else?

– Luke 7:19

Jesus’ response captures the heart of what I hope to get across here:

Go back to John and tell him what you have seen and heard—the blind see, the lame walk, those with leprosy are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised to life, and the Good News is being preached to the poor.

– Luke 7:22-23

Ok, notice what Jesus doesn’t do.
Jesus does not:

  • Debate with them about what the coming Messiah would look like
  • Pull out His ancient scrolls to show them where they were misinterpreting the Scriptures
  • Try to intellectually convince them to believe His words
  • Scare them into following Him by pointing out their flaws, sins, or doubts

In fact, as I really sat with this passage, I realized that Jesus doesn’t really say much at all. And He didn’t seem overly concerned with what they would do with His response to their question either.

He basically says, The proof is in the pudding. Look around and see for yourself. People are experiencing God’s transformative power. Lives are being changed. Draw your own conclusions.

For Jesus, it was never about using the right words to convince people to follow Him.

He knows we must experience Him in order to live the full lives He created us for.

So maybe you’re already there mentally or intellectually, but something is still missing, and you’ve yet to encounter Jesus in a way that can only be experienced.

To you I say… get to know Jesus by finding out about yourself!

Here’s what I mean: we were all created differently and therefore wired to connect with God differently. So experiencing Him is really about finding the ways that He created YOU to most easily and effortlessly find and connect with Him. It’ll be a little different for everyone.

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus makes a comparison between the good gifts we give to our children, and the good gifts God the Father lavishes on those who ask Him.

For some context, He isn’t talking about material possessions or financial prosperity, but about a relationship! We know how to give good things to our children, even as broken and flawed people. So how much more does our Father in Heaven, through Jesus, One who is the full embodiment of grace, mercy, love, and compassion, want to give good gifts to us when we ask Him?

Friends, my point is this: He does not make it hard to find Him! Jeremiah 29:14 has the Lord literally saying, I will be found by you! So consider how this may be easiest for you, specifically.

When someone throws up their arms and says,

“You really just have to experience Him for yourself.”

This is not an exhaustive list, but if you gravitate towards:

  • Community
    Matthew 18:20 tells us that when two or three are gathered together, God promises to be among them. So gather with others who are pursuing God and want to experience Him! To actually live Him, not just be told about Him. This could be a Bible study, or simply connecting with another who walks with Jesus and wants to experience Him too.
  • Creation
    Romans 1:20 tells us that since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see His invisible qualities—His eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God. This means that if you find yourself drawn to nature and sense His presence there – go do that! Experience God there!
  • Intellectual
    Psalm 1:2 talks about taking literal DELIGHT in God’s Word and meditating on it day and night. So if you experience God most easily through Bible study, podcasts, sermons, commentaries, and articles, then do that! I have no doubt He will reveal Himself to you as you continue to delight in Him there.
  • Music
    Psalm 98 starts by telling us to sing to the Lord a new song, for He has done marvellous things, then goes on about using musical instruments to make music to the Lord. We are created as musical beings – certainly some more than others! But if that’s how you experience God, then do that!
  • Prayer
    Philippians 4:6-7 tells us to pray about everything. To tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. Time in prayer can be a powerful way to experience God.

The Two Waters

There’s a beautiful analogy that compares salvation to a tall glass of thirst-quenching water. When you come to faith in Jesus, your deepest hunger and thirst are satisfied in Him, just like a refreshing glass of water satisfies on a hot summer day.

But to really know God in a way that can only be experienced, is like sitting by the seashore and having a mighty wave wash over you, enveloping you and covering every last part of your being. It’s life-altering, and can’t be understood without being experienced. It has to be lived, not told.

What’s in the Ears

The last few months have been pretty reflective for me in a melancholy way. This song is indicative of this and really beautiful. Enjoy it!

Have you experienced Jesus beyond your initial salvation as I’ve tried to describe here? Which of the ways listed do you gravitate towards most? Let me know in the comments or send me a message!

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All Things New

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We made it. We survived another year. I keep hearing the last two years described as a whole bunch of nothing, while at the same time, feeling as though we’ve all aged 20 years, emotionally.

It’s a lot. It’s been a lot.

Yet in my world, this blog in my little corner of the internet turns 2 today!

I didn’t, or I couldn’t, have anticipated what I was getting myself into in January of 2020 when I decided to share from the deepest overflow of my heart in such a public way. But I am super glad that I did.

So seeing as this is the first blog post and podcast of 2022, I thought it appropriate to share some biblical inspo for new beginnings.

Regardless of how weary, worn out, weepy, frustrated, flustered, or furious we may feel, I firmly believe that God IS doing a new thing. And we are invited to be a part of it!

Let’s explore these verses together.

Then God looked over all He had made, and He saw that it was very good!

– Genesis 1:31

This might seem like an odd place to kick off, but it’s foundational for us to recognize that all God makes is GOOD…

If, from the very beginning, as God reflected on the world He created and could see that it was very good, then, we can be confident knowing that whatever God does, it is good. So if you are following Him, He has good planned for you too.

In our current context, do you ever find it hard to distinguish between good and bad because of all the grey areas and nuances that must be considered? I absolutely do. But when it comes to God, He is always good. And all God does is always good. If we start there, we can’t lose. Even as life gets messy and confusing, there is an undercurrent of peace available to us when we seek out and recognize God’s goodness in our lives.

He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end.

– Ecclesiastes 3:11

Does that encourage you? That God has made ALL things beautiful in their own time? There’s hope in that! If what you’re facing isn’t beautiful now, it just means it ain’t over yet. It will get there because God really does make all things beautiful in their time.

I’ve always loved the part about how God sets eternity in people’s hearts. Meaning, He created us with an eternal mindset. If you find yourself longing for more than what you see around you, just know that that longing was put inside you by God on purpose! An eternal perspective. An otherworldly approach to this life that looks past the heartache of the circumstance for what God is doing in the bigger picture.

The verse ends with a reminder that none of us could fully know what God is really up to. Sure, He offers us glimpses, but it will only fully be revealed in His time. That’s why faith is so critical. Faith that God is truly making everything beautiful in its time.

Because of the Lord’s great love, we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion; therefore I will wait for Him.”

– Lamentations 3:22-24

Other translations say that we are not completely wiped out, not completely destroyed, not exhausted… all because of God’s love for us.

Does this resonate with you? Have you ever felt so close to the end of yourself and ready to give up, but somehow, inexplicably, the Lord sustained you? When you should have been flat on the floor, He lifted you up, strengthening and equipping you to somehow carry on?

It IS possible. And each morning is an opportunity to experience His mercy and grace and faithfulness anew. Let’s wait for Him to move, and show up, and refresh in 2022.

Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.

– Isaiah 43:18-19

If you’re like me, forgetting the former things, and not dwelling on the past is no easy task. But searching intently for the new thing God is doing really helps!

And knowing He is working something out in the wilderness and wasteland, specifically, should be refreshing in and of itself, because it gives purpose to those places in our lives that feel too far gone for anything to possibly be salvaged there. But that’s where God does His best work. And that’s what fills us with hope.

Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.

– 2 Corinthians 4:16-17

If this doesn’t help reset our perspectives to a heavenly one, I don’t know what will!

We can absolutely acknowledge the struggle and how real it is. The wasting away can feel inescapable right now. But we don’t lose heart! And why? Because God promises to renew us each day. What is difficult in this season, will result in eternal glory a zillion times better than whatever we’re facing now.

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In His great mercy He has given us new life into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

– 1 Peter 1:3

Every once in awhile, I realize, as if for the first time, what a big deal God’s plan of salvation really is.

Recently, my sons and I had a conversation about grace and mercy. And it was really special for me to watch as they began to understand some of the profound beauty of God’s mercy: the forgiveness of sin. That the punishment for sin is actually withheld, and grace is offered in its place. Grace: that unexpected, free gift of NEW LIFE offered to anyone who believes. It really is amazing when you think about it!

He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away. He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are faithful and true.”

– Revelation 21:4-5

We started in Genesis, so it’s only appropriate to end in Revelation.

Friends, at the end of the story, God wins. And as His children, we get to win too. He really will make everything new. Whatever plagues us, burdens us, or grieves today, it will be gone. And not just gone, but forgotten as we read in previous verses. This is because we’ll be too captivated by our awesome God to dwell on former things any longer. The old order of things will pass away. Our God is seated on the throne and can always be trusted because He is always faithful to keep His promise to His children.

What’s in the Ears

I’ve been ringing in the new year with this song for a few years now so it made sense to share it here. It’s to the tune of Auld Lang Syne, but weepier.

Do you have a favourite scripture that has encouraged you to look forward to new things? Share it with me in the comments and pass this on to a friend if it has encouraged you. Happy New Year!

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The Deepest Desire

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Every evening, after the kids finally settle for the night – or in my daughter’s case – settle for 3.5 seconds before she makes herself dramatically known to the world again – I have this inner battle over what to do with my freedom. Especially on evenings when my husband is out for work, I struggle between binging a show and spending time in God’s Word or in prayer.

Don’t hear what I’m not saying.

I’m not saying there’s anything inherently wrong with Selling Sunset or the latest trending Hallmark Christmas movie. It’s not sinful to stream a Rom Com, and you don’t go to hell for watching TV. That’s not the point.

The point is to answer the following question with unwavering conviction:

What is my goal?

  • Is it to numb out until Netflix asks me (ever so passive-aggressively), “Hey! Are you conscious? Still watching?” RUDE! Yes, I am, OK?
  • Or is my ultimate goal something bigger? Something…. deeper?

Saint Ignatius was the founder of the Jesuit Order. For all the bad rap they get for the many atrocities committed, their founder, Ignatius, was actually a man of deep devotion and profound commitment to Jesus. He emphasized an ardent love for the Saviour, and union with Jesus was his goal – or, deepest desire, if you will.

And herein lies the distinction we all must make.

The difference between our deepest desire and our strongest desire.

  • The deepest desire is the thing you want in your very core. The desire that drives you. The desire that you arrange the rest of your life around.
  • The strongest desire is the thing you want so badly. Often, right in the moment. An intense draw. A momentary pull. Fleeting, but overwhelming. Brief, but intoxicating. It can also be considered the surface desire. That impulsive thing you want at a superficial level.

Here are some examples of each:

Deepest desire:
To be more like Jesus.
To be a supportive spouse.
To be an attentive parent.
To be a reliable friend.
To be successful in my work.
To find fulfillment in my purpose.
To achieve a work/life balance.
To be a source of love, joy, peace, inspiration to those around me.

Strongest desire:
To be comfortable.
To have it easy, and to take it easy.
To enjoy the finer things in life (food, drink, entertainment, etc).
To be attractive.
To have financial security.
To be sought after.

Saint Ignatius argued:

The goal of our life is to live with God forever. The God who loves us and gave us life. Our only desire and our one choice should be this: I want and I choose what better leads to the deepening of God’s life in me.

In light of this, I recently came to a sobering realization.

I was driving home after a day of uneventful errands and feeling inexplicably anxious. There was so much unrest in my spirit and I found myself close to a panic attack. I couldn’t settle on why until it dawned on me:

  • I am looking to so many things to sustain me. When nothing and no one but Jesus can. (Col. 1:17; Heb. 1:3)
  • I want peace that passes understanding, but I don’t go to the Source of peace. (Phil. 4:6)
  • I want joy beyond my circumstances, but I don’t go to the Source of joy. (James 1:2)
  • I want to be loved unconditionally, but I don’t go to the One who IS love! (1 John 4:16)

We allow our strongest desires to dictate how we live our lives and fill our time. And then we wonder why we lack peace, or feel so unfulfilled.

A friend recently shared this example from her own life:

After a few days of feeling quite anxious over the state of our world. She realized she’d had AM radio droning on all day as a backdrop to her daily tasks.

Now, as we already established with everyone’s favourite streaming service, there isn’t anything inherently wrong with the radio.

But if my deepest desire is to see a deepening of God’s life in me, then I must be intentional to engage in activities that will do that. It’s that simple.

Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. 2 Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. 

– Colossians 3:1-2

This manifests differently for everyone. Thankfully, God is so amazing to connect with each of us in ways that are unique to us. But I must still find out what that is!

9 And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, 10 so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.

– Philippians 1:9-11

I can’t sugarcoat it. Choosing to deepen God’s life in me requires sacrifice and discipline. These are not popular words in a culture whose mantra is: Treat yo’ self!

And yet, we see both applied in everyday life.

  • Training for a marathon? You’ll deny yourself certain foods or activities to help prepare your body for the task.
  • Got a big job interview? You’ll reschedule a social dinner the night before to ensure you get a good night’s sleep.
  • Looking to move your growing family into a larger home? You’ll sacrifice day and night to save for a down payment.

Generally, we can agree with the concept of sacrificing small things for BIG goals.

But we must accept that our deepest desire, the one put in us by God, requires more than just discipline and sacrifice. It’s a dying to self that doesn’t make sense without His Spirit in us.

You have made us for Yourself, and our hearts are restless until they find their rest in You.

– Augustine of Hippo

When nothing else makes sense, prioritizing God in us makes everything else make sense. Because as A. W. Tozer argues, God made us for Himself is the only explanation that satisfies the heart of any critical thinker.

Coming back to our original question: What’s my goal? Ignatius would encourage his pupils to ask this of themselves in a different way: What do I desire?

Let’s consider this too. What do I desire? And then just sit with that question. Bring it to the Lord. Let Him show you what is at the core of you. Is it Him? More of Him in your life?

Is your deepest desire to be all He made you to be? To fulfill all He created you for?

With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of His calling, and that by His power He may bring to fruition your every desire for goodness and your every deed prompted by faith.

– 2 Thessalonians 1:11

May our deepest desires be for Jesus. After all, He came to give us life! That we may have it in the fullest way possible. (John 10:10)

What’s in the Ears

From the highly recommended new album, Homecoming! This song talks about God’s love being deeper than just infatuation or the rush of something new… a love that’s weathered.

When you walk with Jesus long enough, you know it to be true.

How sweet it is to trust You, Jesus.
To know You, I mean really know You.

Where does this land for you? Does comparing deepest vs. strongest desires resonate with you? Enlighten you? Annoy you?
Let me know in the comments, send me a message, and feel free to share this with a friend too!

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The Holy Mundane

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This is my life. This is the tension in which I live. The desperate desire to live in what scholars refer to as the sacred.

The spaces and places and moments and actions that we believe are dedicated to God and pleasing to Him as holy.

On my ideal day, this is what sacred or holy looks like:

  • Bible reading
  • blog research
  • blog writing
  • Bible study prep
  • leading Bible studies
  • listening to podcasts or sermons
  • listening to worship music
  • prayer or meditation
  • attending church with my people

Basically, a dream day!

And then, lurking in the corner as a constant pull and vying for my attention is the mundane. Or what scholars refer to as the secular.

The average secular day looks like this:

  • feed kids multiple times in the day
  • errands with kids
  • chauffeuring kids to school, extracurriculars, and various activities
  • make all the meals
  • laundry, laundry, laundry!
  • work calls and emails

Cheers to the secular.

Sacred splash pad

I hope that sharing my own experience, and how I’m learning to manage this tension will be a blessing to you in your own journey.

I recently read The Pursuit of God by A. W. Tozer, and he says this:

These secular tasks we often do reluctantly and with many misgivings, often apologizing to God for what we consider a waste of time and strength. The upshot of this is that we are uneasy most of the time. We go about our common tasks with a feeling of deep frustration, telling ourselves reflectively that there’s a better day coming when we will shake off this earthly shell and be bothered no more with the affairs of this world.

– A. W. Tozer

Friends, I can’t begin to express how deeply this resonated.

It’s not specifically about apologizing to God for not spending more time in sacred activities.

But I’m sure on a subconscious level, that I believe I’m somehow more pleasing to God, that my time is better spent, that I best fulfill my purpose, or that I am more worthy of His love when I toil away at my sacred passions.

Perhaps you’re like me and you grow resentful of time spent away from the things that make you feel closer to God. When really, He never meant for there to be a difference! On the contrary, He has always intended to meet us everywhere!

Sacred ball park day

As we navigate the tension between sacred and secular, we could not find a better model than Jesus for the best outlook.

By the end of Jesus’ life on earth — when all was said and done, and He ascended to the Father in Heaven, God accepted the offering of His life in its entirety.

Friends, please understand this with me, because it was truly a game-changer in how I view my own mundane, secular life.

God didn’t make a distinction between sacred or secular, between holy and mundane. In fact, in John 8:29, Jesus Himself said, I always do what pleases the Father.

If that was truly the case…

…then there’s no ranking of tasks, nor hierarchy of holiness!

All that Jesus did brought glory to God. And this was made possible because His whole life was dedicated to God’s glory. He didn’t engage in certain sacred activities with the subconscious thought that they were holier than others and therefore distinct in some way. The mundane, secular activities were therefore holy as well. All of it dedicated to God.

The Apostle Paul says in 1 Corinthians 10:31, that whatever you do – even eating and drinking! Do all of it for the glory of God.

Nothing is off limits. It’s all for Him! Every mundane task, even those we don’t like. No, especially those we hate! – They can be sacred acts of worship to God when we do them for His glory.

Sacred ice cream treat

Here’s another way to look at it:

In the Old Testament, the sacred place was the tabernacle, and later the temple, where God would meet with His people. The shekinah glory of God — the physical manifestation of God’s presence on earth, could only be seen and experienced in the sacred space: The Holy of Holies. The centre of the temple, where only the high priest could enter.

Then, John 1:14 says, The Word (Jesus) became flesh and dwelt among us. The original language for dwelt refers to setting up a tabernacle.

Friends, this means that Jesus Himself became the Holy of Holies on earth. His incarnation was the sacred space to meet with God. So when we walk with Jesus, and His Spirit indwells us, our whole lives are that sacred space too!

We no longer need to qualify for the priesthood to enter a sacred temple to meet with God. Even a religious establishment is not seen as more holy than your own kitchen or car.

Let’s go a step further

If the birth of The Church took place in the upper room of a house where Jesus’ followers were huddled together and waiting for what only God knew, then why not your upper room?

God filled that room, filled that space, filled their lives with the very sacred and Holy Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead.

It was a mundane, secular upper room. But it became holy ground when God showed up. And those ordinary people became sacred vessels of God’s Spirit. The holy mundane.

Sacred skate park

The Aggressive Faith

For us to realize this truth in our own lives, we have to be INTENTIONAL about how we view our mundane tasks. This calls for what Tozer refers to as aggressive faith:

We must offer all our acts to God and believe that He accepts them. Then hold firmly to that position and keep insisting that every act of every hour of the day and night be included in the transaction. Keep reminding God in our times of private prayer that we mean every act for His glory…. Believe that God is in all our simple deeds and learn to find Him there.

Friends, there’s nothing special about a holy task. Rather it’s that it is done to glorify a Holy God. So even reading the same stupid dinosaur book to my daughter, or playing yet another round of Guess in 10 with my boys can be holy. Because I do it for God’s glory.

  • I wipe noses for God’s glory.
  • I cut up apples for God’s glory.
  • I fold laundry for God’s glory.
  • I’m awoken in the middle of the night for God’s glory.
  • I break up fights for God’s glory.
  • I prepare meals for God’s glory.
  • I write an email for God’s glory.
  • I correct behaviour for God’s glory.

Because whatever I do, whether in word or action, I can do it all for God’s glory.

– Colossians 3:17 (my edits)
Sacred wonderment at God’s creation…
So what’s the difference?

I close with a final punch from Tozer

It is not what you do that determines whether your work is sacred or secular, it is the why you do it.

The motive is everything…. So as you perform your never so simple task, you will hear the voice of angels saying, “Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty; the whole earth is full of His glory.”

What’s in the Ears

This is definitely not a worship song, but it’s a favourite. A classic from 1972 and actually quite sad! But it’s got a happy tune with a catchy beat and my family loves dancing to it. So for us, it’s sacred. And I guess that’s the whole point.

Do you view your own mundane, secular life as holy? Do you see it as sacred to God, for His glory? Please share your thoughts in the comments or send me a message.

If this spoke to you, share it!

*Check out the podcast version on Spotify or Anchor!

Paradigm Shift at a Pig Roast

Published on by tinavila202 Comments

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I was part of a book club this summer that went through Out of Sorts by Sarah Bessey. It’s about making peace with an evolving faith.

It really helped me nail down things I have struggled with over the last little while – particularly when it comes to the Church, her role in the world, and my own role within all that.

I’m hoping some of my own thoughts on this will be helpful to you as well!

As you may know, I was a history teacher before I started raising kids in Essex County, so this next bit really fascinated me. I’ve made it as concise as is humanly possible, but reach out to me if you want more!

The history of the Church has had four major paradigm shifts including her inception at Pentecost.

A paradigm shift occurs when a new discovery is made, new research is revealed, or new techniques are developed that changes the way of thinking or doing things.

Since these paradigm shifts have taken place roughly every 500 years, that should tell us a lot about where we might be heading!

  • The first was the foundation of the Church itself at Pentecost
    This consisted of the Holy Spirit falling upon Jesus’ disciples in the upper room in Acts 2. Then followed by the Apostle Peter being filled with the Spirit and addressing the crowd where thousands came to faith on that very day.
  • The second was when the Roman Empire fell, and the Dark Ages of Christianity were born, circa 500
    These medieval years were unfortunately tainted with Holy Wars and Crusades that did little good to draw ordinary people to the Saviour.
  • The third is known as the Great Schism in 1054
    At this time, there was conflict in the church. Most of it surround the belief that either Peter or Paul was the first official head of the church, as well as debates surrounding a Pope. My overly simplified response to that is… Jesus? Regardless, this resulted in the first of countless church splits. And the Catholic and Orthodox Churches were born.
  • The final shift took place during the Enlightenment Period and is known as The Reformation
    This is when opposition arose against the corruption and absolute power of the Roman Catholic Church and the Protestant Church was born.

I sure hope y’all enjoyed that little history lesson as much as I enjoy learning about these important markers of our history. Because many church scholars and theologians would argue that we’re about to enter another shake up in the life of the Church.

Buckle up kids, it’s going to be a bumpy ride! I mean, I say this in jest, but actually, it’s all very serious and intense.

Keeping in mind these important changes in Church history, I am dying to get to the good stuff of this post found in Acts 10, and I can’t wait to share some applications I am trying to adopt in my own life too.

Let’s check it out together.

Three main things happen in Acts 10

  • Cornelius, a Roman Centurion, is visited by an angel because he is a devout, God-fearing man who gave generously to those in need and prayed to God regularly (vs. 2). The angel tells him to send for a guy named Peter and have him come to his home. He does just that.
  • Meanwhile in Joppa…. the Apostle Peter is hungry and up on a rooftop praying. Suddenly, he has a vision of this sheet coming down in front of him and all kinds of animals are on it. Some kosher, some non-kosher.
    In his vision, God tells him to kill and eat. Peter, in his usual adversarial manner, argues with the Lord that he cannot eat meat that is impure and unclean. God tells him, do not call anything impure that God has made clean!
    They go back and forth on this three times. (Because apparently “three” is the magic number for Peter!) While he’s thinking about this vision and what it might mean, the men who were sent to fetch Peter arrive and escort him to Cornelius’ home.
  • Peter meets with Cornelius and tells him that technically he shouldn’t even be there since Cornelius is a Gentile (non-Jew) and it’s unlawful for them to even associate.
    Peter then asks Cornelius why he sent for him. Cornelius isn’t exactly sure! He tells Peter that an angel told him to send for a man by his name, so he did.
    Peter then realizes the meaning of the sheet with the impure and unclean animals.

And this is where it all comes together…!

This story is about including non-Israelites into the family of God. Because guess what? After Peter tells Cornelius all about Jesus, Acts 10 concludes by saying:

…the Holy Spirit came on all who heard the message. 45 The circumcised believers who had come with Peter were astonished that the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out even on Gentiles. 46 For they heard them speaking in tongues and praising God. Then Peter said, 47 “Surely no one can stand in the way of their being baptized with water. They have received the Holy Spirit just as we have.” 48 So he ordered that they be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.

So, even though Peter’s vision was about God permitting the consumption of ritually impure foods, the vision was only a symbol God was using to prepare Peter for a huge paradigm shift in the early Church!

What was the shift?

  1. No longer have to keep kosher
  2. No longer have to be circumcised to be included in God’s family

WHAT DOES THIS SHIFT IMPLY?

NO MORE DIVISION
ONLY DIVERSITY

Y’all I don’t know how to communicate what a HUGE deal this was for the early believers. Or if we can fully appreciate what this meant for the people they rubbed shoulders with in their daily lives.

To think that after thousands of years, the very things that set them apart as God’s chosen people, namely: circumcision and keeping kosher… these were no longer requirements for being included in God’s family. And it is BLOWING MY MIND.

So what’s the point?

Friends, let’s be open to what God desires to change in our way of thinking. Now, don’t hear what I’m not saying. I’m not talking politics. I’m not talking Covid. I’m not talking the right or wrong way to do church.

  • I’m talking about each of our individual views of God. How we perceive Him, and how those perceptions INFORM the way we see our world.
  • I’m talking about how those views of God FRAME our perceptions of the people around us.
  • I’m saying, let’s ASK God for vision-of-a-pig-roast kind of moments
    • to shake up our thinking
    • to prepare us for what’s coming
    • to equip us with His wisdom and His heart to interact with HIS world the way He desires for us!
  • I want the next paradigm shift to resemble a Peter and Cornelius moment; rather than the schisms of division or the crusades of holy war that have for too long tainted the Church of Christ and her mission in the world.

And what’s the mission?

To love God. (Deuteronomy 6:5)

To love people. (Mark 12:31)

To make disciples of ALL NATIONS. (Matthew 28:19-20)

What’s in the Ears

This song is a little different than my usual, but it’s my favourite on Dante Bowe’s new album, as well as being very well suited to this topic, so win-win. Enjoy!

Ok I need to know your thoughts on this! Was any of this new to you? Does it resonate? Do you agree/disagree? Let me know in the comments or send me a message!

*Check out the podcast version on Spotify or Anchor!

A Seat at the Table

Published on by tinavila202 Comments

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This phrase is trending hard as social, political, and racial unrest continues to challenge the status quo.

Who deserves a seat at the table? Who doesn’t? Who owns the table? Who decides who gets a seat? Can I just build my own table – with my own set of standards and conditions of merit?

Let’s cool it for a sec, and remember that actually… NO ONE deserves a seat at the table!

No one is right with God. Not. Even. One.

– Romans 3:10

Now, there’s a story in 2 Samuel about a special seat, at a special table that I really think is worth exploring.

It takes place long after David slays Goliath, and after King Saul turns on David and tries to have him killed. Our story begins after David is finally crowned king of Israel himself.

Our new king asks a question. It’s a simple question, and we may not even pay it much heed. But he asks:

“Is anyone in Saul’s family still alive—anyone to whom I can show the kindness of God for Jonathan’s sake?”

2 Samuel 9:1

I had to ask myself, why is this on his radar? Why does David feel compelled to show God’s kindness to Saul’s family? And what would that even look like?

Here’s the lowdown:

  • First of all, he wasn’t actually compelled, because…
  • It was not out of guilt or obligation.
  • And it wasn’t even about Saul at all!
  • He was committed to a covenant promise he made to his friend, Jonathan. That’s it.

In 1 Samuel 20:14-15, Jonathan had pleaded with David to promise to show his family kindness even after Jonathan passed.

So now, David’s on a mission. He is determined to keep this covenant promise to his dear friend. And even though Jonathan isn’t around to benefit from it, or even know about it, he will not be swayed.

Finally, David finds Mephibosheth, Jonathan’s son. He was crippled after a tragic childhood accident, and could no longer walk. He was in hiding out of fear of what David might do if he was discovered.

Mephibosheth was terrified of David for two reasons:

  • He was the grandson of David’s rival and enemy, King Saul
  • His very existence was a threat to David’s throne and rule

So this is not an unreasonable concern or irrational fear. Because under normal circumstances, a new king would do everything in his power to eliminate any threat to his throne as well as any remnant of a former dynasty.

Mephibosheth was absolutely both of those things.

Instead of focusing on himself and his fear, he should have focused on who David was: the rightful king, fulfilling a covenant promise to his father, Jonathan.

Because David followed God, the kindness of God that David wanted to bestow on Jonathan’s family was a direct outpouring of the kindness that he had received from God first.

So what does David do when he finds Mephibosheth?

He doesn’t kill him or exile him. He doesn’t torture him or punish him.

David responds with compassion:

He tells Mephibosheth to not be afraid.
He restores to Mephibosheth all of the land that belonged to Saul.
He gives Mephibosheth a seat at the king’s table for the rest of his days.

This meant that David didn’t just allow Mephibosheth to inherit what had previously belonged to his family…

But through David’s extravagant generosity, Mephibosheth was invited into the king’s inner circle, and he and his household were provided for, for the rest of their lives!

Let’s consider how we might relate to this story.

Do you want a seat at God’s table? Do you, like Mephibosheth, see yourself as an enemy of God?

Isaiah 30:18 says that, God is full of mercy and rises to show you compassion…. not because of righteous things you’ve done, as we find in Titus 3:5, but because of His great love.

I hate to break it to you, but we don’t deserve that seat. We just don’t.

Because of the inherent sin we possess from birth, we are disqualified from a seat at the table.

Just as Mephibosheth whose grandfather, Saul, tried to have David killed, Romans 5:10 says that we were God’s enemies.

But as David made a covenant to Jonathan, which had absolutely nothing to do with the evil in Saul’s heart… so too did God make a covenant to His people that overrides the sin in our hearts.

In addition, David’s covenant did not hinge on the actions of Jonathan’s descendants: namely, Mephibosheth who was hiding out of fear of David and his own personal shame.

So in the same way, any ongoing shortcomings we may continue to raise as a barrier between us and God, do not affect the extravagant generosity of God’s covenant and the offer of a seat at His table.

Like Mephibosheth, we need our King to rescue us. We are poor, lame, weak, and fearful. We cannot save ourselves. We desperately need the kindness of God extended to us through His hand of restoration, redemption, and forgiveness.

But let’s not settle too comfortably into the seat of the helpless victim.

For we are not just Mephibosheth in this story – an enemy of the king. If you’re like me, and you’ve recognized your own poverty and need of a Saviour, then we can’t stop the story there.

Friend, you and I are also King David in this story! And he was known as a man after God’s own heart.

David’s actions here are like the ultimate pro tip on kindness.

How can we, like David, use our influence to fulfill the covenant promise we make as believers? How can we show God’s kindness to others, inviting them to sit at His table?

Here’s a page out of David’s book:

  • Seek out those in need of God’s kindness
    This required work on David’s part! Mephibosheth didn’t run to David for saving. David sought him out, not the other way around. Let’s not assume that because there’s no one in need at our door step, that there’s no one in need at all.

The Son of Man has come to seek out and to give life to those who are lost.”

– Luke 19:10

As followers of Jesus, we’re invited to be part of that mission and do the same! Because the fields are ripe for harvest, but the workers are few. (Matthew 9:37)

  • Bless those who don’t deserve it. Even our enemies.
    Ok, enemies is a strong word, and maybe you look around and don’t notice any. But surely you know people who rub you the wrong way… with whom you strongly disagree… whose lifestyle or life choices is perplexing to you at best.

    Mephibosheth was an enemy and a threat to David’s throne, but David’s relationship with Mephibosheth’s father, Jonathan meant more to David than that. And the covenant they shared was more important than any threat to David himself.

    Are we similarly committed to our own role in the covenant promises of God to show kindness to a world that needs it?

I close the best way I know how. By quoting a different Saul – who turned Paul, from Romans 12:9-21:

What’s in the Ears

In reflection… do you feel yourself unworthy of a seat at the King’s table? Mephibosheth certainly did! In fact, in verse 8 he asked David why he’d concern himself with a dead dog such has himself? Those are strong words!

Although we are undeserving, God has sought us out and offers us a seat at His table through His Son, Jesus. In gratitude of the kindness God has shown us, let’s consider how we may show the kindness of God to others in turn.

Have you got any thoughts on this you’d like to share? Send me a message or comment below!

*Check out the podcast version on Spotify or Anchor!

Dead and Gone

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*Audio version now available on Spotify podcast!

Full disclosure, since starting this blog, I find it hard to read the Bible without a radar on the hunt for inspo on my next topic. This is case-in-point.

So, I was going through 2 Kings when I came across the most bizarre story spanning just two verses. If you thought the Bible dragged on to make a point, don’t look to this story as your example. It’s short and sweet, and weird!

So 2 Kings 13:20-21 starts by telling us that the prophet Elisha was dead and gone.

Ok, what it actually says is, “died and was buried”. But Justin Timberlake is a whole vibe. Even from 2008.

So after this status report on Elisha, we’re told that Moabite raiders were marauding. Meaning: to go about in search of things to steal or people to attack.

Some Israelites were burying some guy when they spot this group of marauding Moabites. They panic and toss the body into the nearest hole before running away.

That hole happened to be Elisha’s tomb.

This is already weird. But then… *pause for effect* the dead body lands on Elisha’s bones and is immediately resurrected upon contact.

When the body touched Elisha’s bones, the man came alive, stood up, and walked out on his own two feet!

– 2 Kings 13:21b

And that’s the whole story! Thanks for coming to my TedTalk.

Ok not really… Besides this posthumous anecdote, here’s some background on Elisha:

  • Followed God
  • Performed many miracles
  • Lived life with integrity
  • Served God with humility
  • Prophesied boldly

Knowing this, I’m not entirely surprised that God continued to work through Elisha, even after Elisha was dead and gone. #JTReference

Well this unique situation – you know, where a dead man was casually resurrected because his body landed on the bones of a dead prophet? It got me thinking about IMPACT.

If our faith really means something to us, then it should mean something in the real world too. Otherwise, what kind of impact are we really making?

Are we leaving people better off than when we met them?

Because Elisha lived his life with integrity and in obedience to God, God continued to make his life count in the real world long after Elisha was dead and gone.

Oh how that inspires me!

The thought of making a positive impact on someone long after our paths intersect… isn’t that what it’s all about?

But this doesn’t happen with a sprinkle of wishful thinking, a dash of good intentions, a side of hope-it’ll-work-out, or your fairy godmother’s bibbidi-bobbidi-boo.

A life of integrity is a generous serving of self-sacrifice and a bottomless pitcher of laying down your life for others (John 15:13).

It’s trusting God in obedience when it doesn’t always make sense or suit us. It’s doing something for someone who can’t return the favour. When no one’s watching to praise us for it.

It’s real surrender in the trenches that produces the fruit of godly living.

Let’s consider this analogy:

Can I call myself a runner if I only think about running?

  • Perhaps I’m really passionate about my research on running.
  • Perhaps I follow runners’ blogs and Instagram accounts featuring the most popular runners.
  • Perhaps I watch races on TV and join online chats to discuss runners’ techniques and strategies.
  • Perhaps I have running gear! Sporting the latest in runners footwear and breathable apparel.
  • Perhaps I join a running club with runners who love the sport.
  • Perhaps I even adhere to a strict diet and exercise routine that is proven to help improve my running game.

But I don’t run. Ever.

Even with an interest in running, and head knowledge behind it, can I honestly call myself a runner if the soles of my shoes never hit pavement?

Similarly, can I call myself a Christian if all I do is think about the ideals I’m aspiring toward?

Run with me one lap further.

  • Perhaps I read my Bible and Christian literature about how to be a good Christian.
  • Perhaps I follow all the best blogs (like this one, duh) and Instagram accounts featuring the trendiest Christian celebrities (That term should be a red flag, btw).
  • Perhaps I watch viral sermons and listen to famous podcasts discussing techniques and strategies for Christian living.
  • Perhaps I dress like a Christian! You know, modest is best. I even have those cool shirts with subtle reference to faith.
  • Perhaps I’m involved in all things “church” and surround myself with likeminded people.
  • Perhaps I even adhere to the strict code of conduct that all Christians should! The do’s and don’ts that prove piety and devotion to God.

But I don’t submit to the Lordship of Jesus. Not really. I don’t trust Him with my life. I don’t surrender my will to His. I don’t obey God in the areas I know He’s called me to. I don’t sit in stillness to hear from Him. When I pray, I just talk at Him…

Oh, and I don’t love people. Not really. I don’t serve my community. I don’t love my neighbour (definitely not my enemy). I don’t pray for those who hate me. I don’t show compassion to those who disagree with me. In fact, I don’t give much thought to those around me at all…

Can I really call myself a Christian, then?

Jesus made it super simple for us. All the law and prophets can be summed up in this:

Love God. Love your neighbour (Matthew 22:36-40).

Here are some simple scenarios to illustrate this point:

“You were the only person who noticed me in school.”
“Thank you for checking on me, even if you don’t know what to say.”
“Your gift helped us get through an impossible financial crisis.”
“Thank you for being kind, even if you don’t agree or understand.”

I am the sprouting vine and you’re my branches. As you live in union with Me as your source, fruitfulness will stream from within you—but when you live separated from Me you are powerless.

– John 15:5 TPT

My prayer is that Elisha’s story would stir in us a desire for the type of impact that’s so life-giving, people actually come alive because of God in us.

A word of caution:

  • We believe lies if we think we can do any good without the life-giving power of God at work in us.
  • We ALSO believe lies, if we think a small act of kindness isn’t worth doing unless it’s moving mountains or calling down fire from heaven.

Since Jesus Himself compared the Kingdom of Heaven to tiny seeds and buried treasure… let’s not forget how significant the small and hidden things can be!

The enemy of our souls would have us believe a text to encourage a friend, or a smile for a stranger isn’t doing enough. So we end up doing nothing! Let’s remember that some of the most life-changing work of the Spirit has been in the grassroots, not the flashy stage.

Of course, there’s also hard work and sacrifice – you don’t live a life of integrity and obedience by watching runners go by!

Remaining connected to God, our Source, and obeying Him through little things? That’s a sure way to make a lasting impact… long after we’re dead and gone.

So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up!

– Galatians 6:9

What’s in the Ears

This song is a reference to Ezekiel, not Elisha, but it’s still super good.

Were you familiar with this story about Elisha? Does it inspire you to reflect on the impact you’re making? Share your thoughts in the comments or send me a message!

*Audio version now available on Spotify podcast!